Petunia plant named ‘DRAY305’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘DRAY305’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant flowering, mounded ball-shaped form, red flower color and extra large flower size. The new variety is a  Petunia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Petunia sensu wijsman.

Variety denomination: ‘DRAY305’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Petunia varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during February of 2011.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Petunia sensu wijsman. ‘cv. 10-4265’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Petunia sensu wijsman ‘cv. 10-4253’. The new variety was discovered in November of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2011 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in December of 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 25 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DRAY305’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DRAY305’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DRAY305’ as a new and distinct Petunia cultivar:

-   -   1. Mounded, ball-shaped plant.     -   2. Very well branched with medium vigor.     -   3. Flower color is red.     -   4. Flower size is extra large.     -   5. Abundant flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAY305’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Petunia sensu wijsman ‘cv. 10-4265’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAY305’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Mounded, ball shaped growth habit compared to the semi         upright growth habit of the seed parent.     -   2. Larger plant size.     -   3. Different flower color, red compared to dark red color of the         seed parent.     -   4. Larger flower size.     -   5. More abundant flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAY305’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent; Petunia sensu wijsman ‘cv. 10-4253’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAY305’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Mounded, ball shaped growth habit compared to the semi         upright growth habit of the pollen parent.     -   2. More abundant branching.     -   3. Different flower color, red compared to light pink flower         color of pollen parent.     -   4. Larger flower size.     -   5. More abundant flowering.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAY305’ are comparable to the commercial variety Petunia ‘DANRAY5’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,973. The two Petunia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DRAY305’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower color is lighter.     -   2. Shorter, lighter colored leaves.     -   3. Less vigor.     -   4. Shorter branches.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAY305’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Petunia ‘DANRAY3’, unpatented. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘DRAY305’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Larger flower size.     -   2. Red flowers. The comparator has light purple flowers with         dark purple veins.     -   3. Shorter branches     -   4. Less vigor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a close up of the flowers.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DRAY305’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rooted cutting.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DRAY305’ plants grown in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 17° C. to 23° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia sensu wijsman ‘DRAY305’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 to 14 days. -   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting. -   Growth habit: Mounded. -   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm. -   Height: About 20 cm. -   Plant spread: About 60 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Branching characteristics: Very well branched. -   Length of primary lateral branches: About 20 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: About 0.4 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 8. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.         -   Diameter.—About 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Good. -   Internode length: About 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 25 per branch.         -   Average length.—5.5 cm.         -   Average width.—2.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of surfaces.—Velvety.         -   Aspect.—Mainly flat, attached at approximately 90 degrees.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 C. Young             foliage under side: RHS Green 137 C. Mature foliage upper             side: RHS Green 137 B. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green             137 C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Green 137 C. Venation color under side: RHS Green 137 D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.3 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 cm.             Color: RHS Green 137 B.         -   Texture.—Velvety.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring, Summer and Autumn. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: About 30 days. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Axillary, single flower,     salverform shape, outwardly facing. -   Rate of flower opening: 2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: 3-6 days. -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: About 60. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Purple 185 A. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—1 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—0.4 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Length from throat.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Quantity.—5.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Apex.—Blunt.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: RHS Red 46 B. Lower surface:             RHS Red 51 C.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: RHS Red 46 C. Lower surface:             RHS Red 51 C. Flower throat (inside): RHS Brown N 200 C.             Flower throat, vein: RHS Black 202 A. Flower tube (outside):             RHS Greyed-Purple 185 C. Flower tube, vein: RHS Green 137 C.         -   Fading.—Petals fading to: RHS Red 47 B. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.4 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Green 137 B. Lower Surface: RHS             Green 137 C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Green 137 C.         -   Orientation.—45 degrees. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Filament length.—About 2.0 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Length.—About 0.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Rounded.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow 8 C.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow 8 C. Quantity: Plenty. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Style.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 D.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 A. Ovary             Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: About 70 brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5 mm     diameter, per one brown, conical capsule. Seeds minute, not     effectively measured with an R.H.S. chart. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Petunia has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates a range from approximately 5° to     40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘DRAY305’ as herein illustrated and described. 